We are already in the final stretch of this exciting year 2018, which was full of good football. And to close it properly, I will make a recount of the 50 best players of the year. I want to clarify that only the calendar year will be taken into account, that is, what has been done from January to December 2018. In this second part we will reveal positions 40 to 31.
The 50 best footballers in the world 2018 (50-41)
40)Giorgio Chiellini (Italy, Juventus).
Chiellini has reconfirmed himself as the true General of the Bianconeri defense. After a few months of doubt after the departure of his faithful teammate Bonucci to AC Milan, Chiellini has returned to its best level becoming the real defensive bastion of the Turin team and confirming its status as one of the best center backs in the world. His physical strength, character and experience have been key to the titles obtained by Juventus. And this season, already with Bonucci back at his side, has been vital for the solid start to the season of the Vecchia Signora in Italy and in Europe.
39)Christian Eriksen (Denmark, Tottenham Hotspurs).
The Danish has practically taken over Tottenham midfield and the good moments of his team happen because he is in his maximum football form. Christian has become one of the best players in the entire Premier League as well as being one of the top assistants. In addition, he commanded Denmark until the round of 16 of the 2018 World Cup where he was the soul and captain of his team. His good performances have not gone unnoticed and more than one great club dies to take the services of the talented Eriksen who, with precise passes and vision of game, handles like an orchestra the attacks of Tottenham.
38)Paulo Dybala (Argentina, Juventus).
"La Joya" has managed to maintain a good level throughout 2018. It is true that its performance was not as good as in 2017, but it has been enough to stay within our TOP50. After a hesitant start to the year, the Argentine was able to close with everything at the end of the season with key performances so that Juventus did not end up losing the Serie A title to Napoli. This earned him the call of Sampaoli to the World Cup, where we would have liked to see him more since he practically did not have opportunities in Russia. In total the Cordovan scored 16 goals in all 2018, although he left a pending issue in the Champions League Quarter Finals against Real Madrid, where he was erased during the game and was ejected in a stupid way; subject that it plans to fulfill in an outstanding way in 2019.
37)Edinson Cavani (Uruguay, Paris Saint-Germain).
If we had to describe Edinson Cavani in three words they would undoubtedly be "claw", "talent" and "scorer". The Uruguayan striker has added another goalscorer in 2018 to his career, after scoring 28 goals. Despite the arrival of Neymar to the Parisian team, Cavani reaffirmed on the basis of goals his status as the main reference and figure of PSG, making use of his experience within the club. In Ligue 1 they were crowned champions again with Cavani as top scorer of the tournament. However, again the Uruguayan goals could not reach in the UEFA Champions League, the eternal dream of the Parisians. For his part in the World Cup, Cavani assumed the leading role of the Uruguayan forward after the scoring drought Suárez experienced and became the benchmark of his team. His three decisive goals (and, above all, his splendid match against Portugal) allowed Uruguay to reach the Quarter Finals where they fell to the unbeatable France. The Uruguayan hopes to be able to contribute his goals so that in 2019 the PSG can raise the longed for Champions League.
36)Memphis Depay (Netherlands, Olympique Lyonnais).
2018 has been the year of the football resurrection of Memphis Depay. Despite the fact that many of us considered his career dead, he has shown us the opposite. Last season Memphis Depay broke it all in Ligue 1 by scoring 24 goals and distributing 18 assists, catapulting Lyon to be runner-up of the tournament, only behind the almighty PSG. There was no player more influential and decisive in the goals of his team last season in Ligue 1 than Depay. In addition, Memphis has assumed the role of star, football and emotional leader of the Dutch team led by Koeman. With Memphis as a benchmark and maximum figure managed to qualify to the Final Four of the UEFA Nations League ahead of France and Germany. An entire country is entrusted to Memphis Depay as the leader and inspiration of a new Dutch generation. Honestly Memphis Depay has been one of the most impressive footballers in 2018 and do not be surprised that next summer we are talking about his millionaire transfer to some great club.
35)Lorenzo Insigne (Italy, SSC Napoli).
If Napoli was so close to winning the Serie A last season, much had to do with the good moment that Lorenzo Insigne was going through. The Italian is one of the few born dribblers left in football today and is not afraid to show all his talent whenever he can. This 2018 has achieved the highest performance of his entire career assuming the offensive responsibility of Napoli after the Mertens star went out. And in this new season, with the respect of Cristiano Ronaldo, he has become the best player of the entire Serie A. The performance of Insigne is simply superlative providing important goals, but above all, creating game that is what he does best.
34)Joshua Kimmich (Germany, FC Bayern Münich).
Despite polyvalence, Kimmich has achieved on the right side the place where he stands out and has established himself as the best right-back in the world. The influence of the German in the Bayern is undeniable, since it has become one of the maximum assistants of the Bundeliga; in addition to contributing goals in key moments, as in the Champions semifinal against Real Madrid. It is amazing to see the astonishing ease with which Kimmich travels the gang and joins the attack after knowing that this was not even his natural position. We thought it would be an impossible mission to find the replacement for Lahm, but it seems that Kimmich has it very well covered. It must also be said that Joshua was one of the few rescuers of the German disaster in Russia 2018.
33)Miralem Pjanic (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Juventus).
The Bosnian has become the authentic handler of the times in Juventus. Pjanic is a versatile midfielder who can fulfill several functions, the most important for Juve is that of distributor, organizer and practically designed of offenses; a clear pillar in the titles achieved by Juve this year and their ambitions for 2019. The Bosnian has earned his place among the best midfielders in the world.
32)David De Gea (Spain, Manchester United).
It's impressive how David De Gea continues to sign himself year after year as one of the best goalkeepers on the planet. I have no doubt that the Spanish is the best and most important player of Manchester United and that without him, they would not even be in the positions of direct access to European competitions. His level with United is simply superlative, it is almost impossible to score a goal. Not for nothing was he named as the best goalkeeper in the Premier League. However, the Spanish team is still pending. De Gea had a very poor performance in the 2018 World Cup where he was one of the biggest culprits of the Spanish catastrophe. It seems that a kind of curse will forever follow him every time he wears the shirt of Spain.
31)Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid).
Another dream year for the best left-back of the 21st century. The Brazilian walks the left band as if it were the backyard of his house; its ease to attack is astonishing. Marcelo has been known for being a player who appears at important moments. If Real Madrid was stuck, Marcelo with an electric overflow or a violent internee in the rival area managed to give the game another rhythm. The reality is that the Brazilian was decisive last season in obtaining the Champions League, by scoring goals in the Round of 16, Quarter Finals and the semifinal of the tournament; decisive goals that allowed merengue to advance to the final. And although it is true that the constant injuries have not allowed him to be regular at the start of the season; No one doubts that when he recovers 100% he will again be a fundamental piece in the successes that Real Madrid aspires to achieve in 2019.
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